Ray, H. CordeliaPoems

Greeting

To Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, on her Eighty-fifth Birthday

We greet thee now upon this festal morn,O Friend of Freedom! thou who in those daysWhen human rights were scorned and Justice slept,Though loud the bondman cried, didst dare to raiseThy voice to aid the lowly. Many a soulWas roused to nobler thinking, many a heartImpelled to braver doing by thy words,And in the contest fitted to bear part.

We read, and lo! a vision rises there.Who is't comes here? A hero crowned with bay?Ah, no! a slave in chains, of meekest mien,Treading with patient step a thorny way.

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'Tis Uncle Tom, sad Uncle Tom! He turns,He backward points, and what do we descry?Unnumbered hosts in shackles, bleeding, torn,To whom it were a blessing but to die.

Anon the vision passes! and we seeAnother host,--a smiling, happy band.The chains are torn away, and chants of praiseVibrate along the mountains, through the land.Such was the boon that thou didst help to give,O noble woman! and as years fleet by,Does not the thought of ransomed Uncle TomsMoisten with tears of thankfulness thine eye?

For surely naught can e'er avail to checkA blessed influence: it still will liveWhile the majestic stars in solemn rhythmWheel in their mighty orbits. What could giveSuch impulse unto Justice as the scenesOn thy pathetic pages? Who could learnThe story of that rare, heroic life,And not with deepest indignation burn?

The nation's shame was lifted by the forceOf words like thine, far more than by decreesOf lordliest statesmen in their councils grave.And when war's din had ceased, and on the breezeThe silv'ry cadence of fair Freedom's chimesRang out in joyful measures, was the pealNot sweeter for the work that thou hadst done?Whose worth the coming years will still reveal.

So may thy birthday be all bright with bloomOf happy thoughts, and from the stirring pastMay sweetest mem'ries come of those brave deedsFor Freedom ventured. Lo! time speedeth fast,

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And loved ones haste again with greeting gladAnd as around they flock their gifts to layBefore thy feet, our dearest prayer is this:God's peace be thine upon thy natal day!